Chapter Three

Finding the road to the town was an easy task. It swayed and curved around the lush farm fields that quickly filled the area. What surprised the two the most was how the farmers took little heed of the lone traveling boy as they just seemed too busy with their work.

Ah, well, the fewer questions asked, the better, I suppose. Stitches thought to himself while feeling silly being carried around by a child.

When they got to the edge of town, they learned it was called Knocks.

“That's a silly name. Why do you think it’s called Knocks?” Thomas asked with a sly grin.

“Don’t know, guess you will just have to ask.” Stitches retorted.

“Alright, I will!.” Thomas said while continuing his march.

This should be interesting. Stitches thought to himself dryly.

As soon they hit the outskirts of which for, this place might as well be the center. Thomas gagged and almost dropped his companion as he instinctively reached to plug his nose. In all honesty, the sorcerer couldn’t blame him. The streets were packed dirt and mud in some places, and waste buckets were clearly just tossed out the window haphazardly. Vendors sold meat outside in the open along with food from other vendors creating a cacophony of smells. That peasants would be used to but not someone like Thomas.

“Thomas, you will have to grin and bear it. Like everyone else. Plus, people are starting to stare. And if I’m being honest, you don’t smell like roses right now either.” Stitches, thought to Thomas.

At this, Thomas winced he hadn’t thought about how long it had been since he bathed now; embarrassed and not wanting to draw attention, he put his hands down and slowly walked more into town.

“So how do I get food here do I just ask?” Thomas inquired.

“That is one of the most ridiculous questions I have ever heard. No, you have to pay for things with money.” Stitches Thought in a rude tone.

“I know that’s how people get things I’m not an idiot. I’m asking you because I don’t have any money!” Thomas said in an equally rude tone.

At this, Stitches was taken aback. Of course, he didn’t have money. It’s not like the kidnappers were going to leave it on him or give him an allowance for good behavior. How could he not factor this into his plans?

“I’m sorry, Thomas, what I said was rude, and I feel. I have failed you slightly. The fact I forgot something as simple as money is, well very stupid of me.” Stitches Thought to Thomas with shame.

“It’s alright I should have asked earlier. But the question still stands what do I do? I’m starving. Thomas said with his stomach speaking louder than him.

Stitches pondered this problem until he looked Thomas over while damaged his clothes are made of fine materials. He could trade them for less conspicuous ones and get some coin. So long as this town had a clothier.

“Thomas, ask someone about a clothier.” Stitches thought quickly.

“Why?” Thomas asked. Wondering because, to Thomas’s Knowledge, you can’t eat clothes.

“Simple, we will sell your current clothes that are made of fine materials for cheaper ones and make some money,” Stitches thought once again, filled with confidence.

“Oh, I see that makes sense, I suppose,” Thomas said with worry.

After a few tries and some rather rude people, the two found there was indeed a clothier in town a few streets overfilled with excitement, Thomas sprinted towards his destination. Packed between two buildings was a little shop called Threads it’s windows were clean, but the door hung slightly off balance. When they walked inside, it was no way what a place that Thomas’s mother would ever bring him to buy clothes. Boxes were just stuffed with random garments and rolls of cloth. Small tables filled the gaps of boxes with spools of threads filling every inch of them and even falling to the floor. Worse of all, dust was everywhere. In fact, it could be what held this building together for all they knew. Thomas believed no hoped this place was abandoned till that hope was dashed by a tall, slender man in plain clothes and small spectacles walked out of the back and greeted them.

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“Why, hello there. Did your parents send you for something?” The tall, slender man asked.

“Thomas, don’t be rude.” Stitches thought quickly.

“Umm... hello, sir.” With a nervous gulp, Thomas continued. “ I’m not here for my parents in fact, I’m traveling alone and would like to sell my clothes for cheaper ones,” Thomas said with trepidation.

At these words, the tall, slender man adjusted his spectacles and took a good look at the boy in front of him, noticing the fine materials. The man gained a face of greed which caused Stiches to release mana as bloodlust, making the man regret his decision. It would be obvious that a noble boy would have a guard, just his luck, but gaining some fine materials was still in the cards.

“Boy, your clothes are of some of the finest materials I've…” The Tall, slender man began to say.

“It’s Thomas, not boy,” Thomas interjected.

“I see my apologies my name is David. Now as I was saying, Your clothes are made of some of the finest materials I've seen but are dirty and torn, so I will give you ten gold pieces for them.” David said with resolution in his voice.

“Thomas, is Ten Gold pieces a lot?” Stitches thought to Thomas in a curious tone as he now realized he didn’t know the currency system would change from his time.

“I guess not to me, normally, but since I don’t have any, yes, it is. My mom made me learn basic math and how to use money when I was five. It breaks down into tens, like ten bronze pieces to a silver piece and ten silver pieces to a gold piece. She said a gold piece could feed a family of four for a week.” Thomas said, whispering as low as he could while bringing Stitches up to his.

“I see. Ask him to break down into multiple variations of the coins. I doubt we will find many places that will give change.” Stitches instructed.

After Thomas did what he was instructed. He was led to the back and measured. Then given a nice set of olive green travel clothes and new boots. To Stitch's surprise, the shopkeeper even tossed Thomas a small dark green travel cloak. And waved him out the door with a smile. It wasn’t hard finding a place to eat as Thomas might as well be a bloodhound from four streets away he smelled fresh bread and roasted meat.

Once again, taking in their surroundings. They looked at the name of the place, The sleeping goat. Peered inside and saw rowdy customers, a warm fire, a minstrel being ignored and a bartender eyeing any man who got handsy. Just your typical inn. Stitches was relieved that some things stayed the same after all those minstrels were still just off-key. They had to be doing this on purpose. Going inside, they sat at a table towards the back, taking note of four strange men completely covered, hiding all their features, sitting at a table in a dark corner playing cards. They waited patiently till a young barmaid showed up to take Thoma’s order.

“I’m sorry, sweetie I didn’t mean to take so long to get here. My name is Erica, and yours?” Erica asked, being polite and nosy as she had never seen Thomas before.

“Th...Thomas,” Thomas answered with a stutter.

This brought an unconscious giggle out of Stitches which fortunately went unheard.

“Thomas, huh? Haven’t seen you here before I know all kiddies around here everyone does small town, and they get sent to fetch their fathers all the time. You traveling by yourself?” Erica asked.

“No!” Thomas shouted. Which was not a lie, as he did have Stitches.

“Good, wouldn't want something to happen. So do you know what you want?”

Erica asked in a very cheery manner.

“Umm… I smell meat and bread that smells good.” Thomas replied with a bit of drool and a growling stomach.

“Those would be our mince pies. Fortunately for you and your tummy, they're hot and fresh. But I hate to ask a hungry kid, but you got any coin?” Erica asked in a pleading tone.

At this, Thomas Thomas began pulling out some coins, including a gold one, at that, Erica grabbed his hand and had him shove his money back in his pocket and looked around to see who saw.

“Thomas, don’t ever do that again hungry people get jealous, and you aren’t from around here. Hand me Five copper pieces I will take you to a room for you to sleep and eat in. Only answer the door for me after what you just did, understand.” Erica said with a serious tone.

With a nod, Thomas got up, followed the barmaid up the stairs to a private room and sat at the table in the room after handing her the five copper pieces. And moped. After sending a trickle of mana through the door to make sure no one was there, Stitches got up and had some things to say.

“ Well, that could have been worse. I will say you were lucky that barmaid was honest and a good person. But she was right don’t believe everyone will be. Not to say most are evil just circumstances happen. Now!” As soon as the last word echoed into Thomas’s ear, he saw Stitches raise a hand, and dark purple mana swirled and became a solid small disc the size of the doll's hand.” Put your money in here, and I will keep it safe and give you a little each day. Whenever we can, we will break down the gold pieces so it will be easier to give you money.” Stitches said.

With a nod, Thomas dropped the money into the disc and watched it disappear, making him love magic all the more. After a short while, his food was brought to him and some water to wash with, and he went straight to sleep with his guardian ever watchful. As morning came, Thomas ate breakfast and went to a shop to find a map.

They quickly learned they couldn’t afford a map but were allowed to look at one under the strict supervision of the clerk. Learning where they were in the country of Mounst. They looked and found they must cross the sea to get to Estaria. Plotting a course northeast to a city by the sea called Lindon would be their best option. Of course, Thomas had a mystery to solve first.

“Sir, why is this place called Knocks?” Thomas asked the clerk.

“Of course, you would ask that. Why not everyone does. It’s named after the man who first earned a last name here. Long ago, when this place was reclaimed, all the villagers had a bet to see who could get a last name, so a man named Jeremy started going around knocking on everyone's door in the morning and evening, even sometimes just for passing by. Without anyone noticing, the people started calling him knocks after enough did. He stood in the center of town a proclaimed he had won the bet, and the town was now named Knocks after him, Jeremy Knocks. Many cursed him as they realized he annoyed them to win. And that’s our history.” The clerk said in a rather annoyed voice.

Dumbfounded and trying not to giggle, Thomas bought some travel rations, found a man that was going to sell produce in Lindon with a cart and set off once again for home.